US3937209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat storage device
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-12
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Granted: 1976-02-10
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Expires: 1994-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A heat storage device of simple design and compact dimensions is disclosed. The device uses a heat storage medium which contracts upon melting and which has a melting point high enough to be of use in connection with conventional, nuclear, and solar power plants.
Inventors
- 👤 James Alden Van Vechten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:08
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/021; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
Heat storage device comprising a reservoir containing a heat storage medium, means for inserting and extracting heat from said medium, characterized in that 1. said medium is a material whose density in its liquid phase exceeds that in its solid phase, 2. said material has a range of melting temperatures above 100° C and 3. said means for inserting and extracting heat are placed in proximity of the lower end of said reservoir.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
Heat storage device comprising a reservoir containing a heat storage medium, means for inserting and extracting heat from said medium, characterized in that 1. said medium is a material whose density in its liquid phase exceeds that in its solid phase, 2. said material has a range of melting temperatures above 100° C and 3. said means for inserting and extracting heat are placed in proximity of the lower end of said reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
Device of claim 1 in which said medium is a chemical compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Device of claim 2 in which said chemical compound is tetrahedrally coordinated in its solid phase and metallic in its liquid phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Device of claim 3 in which said chemical compound is selected from the group consisting of AlSb, GaAs, GaSb, InSb, BP, AlP, GaP, InP, AlN, CdSnP 2 , CdSnSb 2 , CdGeSb 2 , CdGeAs 2 , CdGeP 2 , and ZnSiP 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
Device of claim 1 in which said medium is a chemical element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Device of claim 5 in which said chemical element is selected from the group consisting of Bi, Ge, and Si.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Device of claim 1 in which said medium is an approximate eutectic mixture of at least two media which have an ordered structure in their solid phase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Device of claim 7 in which said approximate eutectic mixture is essentially a mixture of Ge and S.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Device of claim 8 in which said approximate eutectic mixture contains a total of up to 10 percent by weight of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Mg, Sn, and Bi.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Device of claim 1 in which said material has a range of melting temperatures above 500° C and a specific heat of fusion of at least 300 cal/cm 3 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3709209A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-09 | 1979-08-11 | 1980-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-09 | 1983-08-11 | 1984-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-09 | 1987-08-11 | 1988-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |